Basic HTML Codes

Basic HTML Codes

OnCourse permits you to use HTML to format discussion postings and email messages. Many students are composing in a word processor, then cutting/pasting into the message window. This is a great idea to help maintain the security of your work. However, sometimes, when this happens layout and formatting is lost. This includes bolding, indenting, paragraph separations, etc.

In an effort to help students format their postings so that they are in the most readable format as possible, I have created this “cheat sheet” for basic HTML codes. If you’ve never used these before, please try these on your postings. In addition to learning a new development skill, you’ll be saving my eyes (Always a good thing).

A note about the format of the cheat sheet. Some codes change the way text is displayed… In these cases [TEXT] will be used to indicate any amount of text, from a word to multiple sentences. The relevant codes will be bolded (for ease of reading), but when using them in the OnCourse fields, bolding is not necessary.

General HTML conventions:

HTML codes (called tags) are enclosed in “<” and “>” signs
Tags surround the affected text.
Most HTML tags occur in pairs. However, some don’t need the second tag to “close” the tag.
The first tag in a pair is “plain” (<TAG>), the second one has a slash at the beginning to indicate “closed” or “end” (</TAG>).

HTML Code & Tag Name	Brief Description	Resulting Display
“Paragraph” Tag [TEXT] <P> [TEXT]	Begins a new paragraph. Separates 2 paragraphs with a “blank” line.	[TEXT] [TEXT]
“Font” Tag <FONT COLOR=colorname>[TEXT]</FONT> OR <FONT COLOR=#hexcolorcode>[TEXT]</FONT>	Changes the color of the indicated text. Basic color names are recognized (red, green, blue, etc.), but hexadecimal color codes (FF0000, 00FF00, 0000FF, etc.) can also be used (be sure to include the “#” sign before the hexadecimal code.	[TEXT] [TEXT] [TEXT] [TEXT] [TEXT] [TEXT]
Note: The <FONT> tag has several attributes including size, alignment, etc. You can research these other options if you would like to experiment with them.
“Ordered List” Tag (With “List Item” Tags) <OL> <LI>[TEXT1] <LI>[TEXT2] <LI>[TEXT3] </OL>	Creates a numbered list.	[TEXT1] [TEXT2] [TEXT3]
“Unordered List” Tag (With “List Itme” Tags) <UL> <LI>[TEXT1] <LI>[TEXT2] <LI>[TEXT3] </UL>	Creates a bulleted list.	[TEXT1] [TEXT2] [TEXT3]
Notes: · You can change the lists to be lettered or have different bullet types by changing an attribute of the tag. Feel free to research the process for doing this on your own. · The indentations are not necessary, but do aid in troubleshooting if there are problems with the resulting display.
<B>[TEXT]</B>	Makes text bold	[TEXT]
<I>[TEXT]</I>	Makes text italic	[TEXT]

Sample Coded Posting

A question has been asked regarding the midnight deadline.

The midnight deadline is for your initial posting and the ones that require one response, also for the major projects (most especially). Other replies can be sent to the discussions and we can be more flexible about that (considering our tight timeline).

Please keep in mind the purpose of the forums:

<UL>

<LI>They are to encourage discussion and/or debate.

<LI>Think of a conversation at a party.

<LI>If you walk into the room, shout out a provocative statement (ie. "All librarians wear sensible shoes!"), then slam the door, you aren't participating in a discussion.

<LI>You are, instead, creating a riot.

</UL>

Discussions have give & take involved. Sometimes there is disagreement or dissent, but seldom do verbal fisticuffs ensue.

The long and short of the deadline issue is this:

<OL>

<LI>For projects I must be more strict about the deadlines since more detailed examination on my part is required for them.

<LI>I can be a tad flexible about the postings that are replies, but not about the initial one.

<LI>If this flexibility gets to be a problem, we can revisit the issue.

</OL>

A question has been asked regarding the midnight deadline.

Please keep in mind the purpose of the forums.

· They are to encourage discussion and/or debate.

· Think of a conversation at a party.

· If you walk into the room, shout out a provocative statement (ie. "All librarians wear sensible shoes!"), then slam the door, you aren't participating in a discussion.

· You are, instead, creating a riot.

Discussions have give & take involved. Sometimes there is disagreement or dissent, but seldom do verbal fisticuffs ensue.

The long and short of the deadline issue is this:

1. For projects I must be more strict about the deadlines since more detailed examination on my part is required for them.

2. I can be a tad flexible about the postings that are replies, but not about the initial one.

3. If this flexibility gets to be a problem, we can revisit the issue.